Student Spotlight: Jane Weiland
M.Ed. '03 Reading, CAS'16 Technology in Education, Ed.S. '21 Teacher Leadership
Tell us about yourself and your educational career:
My journey as an educator began in 1999 as a teacher in Woodland District 50 and I’ve taught third and fourth grade for the district ever since. I studied English/Elementary education at Marquette University and received a Master’s degree in Reading and completed the Reading Recovery training program from NLU. Later, I received a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Technology in Education. Now I’m in the Teacher Leader Ed.S. program with NLU.
Why did you choose TL specifically?
I chose the Teacher Leadership program because I wanted to extend my influence beyond the classroom, but I don’t want to become an administrator. My students’ curiosity and perseverance continue to inspire me, but I also enjoy collaborating with other teachers to improve teaching and learning school-wide.
What are your goals as a Teacher Leader student?
As a future Teacher Leader, I want to collaborate with faculty and staff to create meaningful experiences for students. My hope is that together we create relevant and engaging content that supports students in reaching their potential and becoming good citizens.
Tells us about some challenges in education today and how becoming a Teacher Leader may address some of these challenges:
This past year of remote learning presented a whole new set of teaching challenges overall, but my NLU coursework has always focused on technology integration in personalized learning. I’ve learned how to leverage technologies to extend and enhance students’ understanding of the concepts I present. When technology became an essential component of delivering lessons, I was able to work around the challenges of remote teaching, which made me feel ahead of a lot of uncertainties. Beyond the shift towards 21st century learning skills, my Teacher Leader coursework has taught me to implement equitable learning experiences for all my students.
What are you most proud of?
I was profoundly honored that my school recognized me with its Teacher of the Year award in 2020-21. I’ve always enjoyed learning and have a passion for teaching. I’m proud to inspire and empower a new generation of students and guide them as they develop skills they’ll need for the future.
Tell us about a project you’re working on right now as a Teacher Leader student?
Something I’m working on right now is my long-term TLDP (Teacher Leader Demonstration Project). The assignment is to create a project and lead its school-wide implementation. For my project, I’m collaborating with the museum educator at the Dunn Museum to design an after school program and curriculum for teachers in my school to utilize in their classroom. For this project, I applied skills I have gained from the TL program, specifically communication, building trust, and introducing and expanding new initiatives across the school.
Why did you choose to study at NLU?
I chose NLU early on because it has an excellent reputation as a teaching college. Both my in-person and online courses have been rigorous, challenging, and grounded in innovative research. The professors are top notch and committed to excellence. They gave me the confidence to pursue an Ed.S. in the Teacher Leader program. They also have provided stimulating environments and hold us to high standards. I think that separates NLU from other colleges. Not only are they grounded in best practices, I feel like I’ve been both challenged and supported by faculty during my degree programs here.
